BATAVIA, Ohio – A father who once beat cancer had his worst nightmare come true and the disease return. Now he's determined to find a match.
Hundreds of people came out to support Doug Stoutenborough Sunday in his fight against acute myeloid leukemia, a type of blood cancer, during a donor drive at the Mount Carmel Christian Church. He needs a bone marrow donor for his treatment of the disease.
“It’s overwhelming,” Stoutenborough said. “When you think that the person that could save your life is actually walking through this door today, it’s overwhelming.”
Stoutenborough was diagnosed with the disease in 2014. Fewer than half of those diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia find a match for a donor, according to Delete Blood Cancer DKMS, part of a network of donor centers.
Still, Stoutenborough and his family are maintaining hope that he’ll recover. His cancer went into remission once before.
“We are strong and we will overcome not through ourselves, but through the support we have, the love that we have, the love that we have that has been overwhelming,” Stoutenborough’s wife, Deanna, said.
Being checked as a potential match is a quick and simple process that just involves swabbing inside the mouth, according to drive organizer Rachel Reuhlman.
Even if the drive doesn’t turn up a match for Stoutenborough, it could help someone else later on.
“There’s going to be a handful of people who come out today to get tested, who over the next 5-10 years are going to get a call asking them to save someone’s life,” he said.
For more information about being tested as a bone marrow donor’s visit Delete Blood Cancer DKMS’ website.Anyone in good health age 18-55 is eligible to register.
